Egregia
menziesii The "Feather Boa" Kelp

Order Laminariales
The Kelps

The order Laminariales is characterized by individuals with a macroscopic
sporophyte generation and a microscopic gametophyte generation. The
sporophytes are large (usually over 1 meter tall) with a holdfast,
stipe, and one or more blade or blades. The stipe is usually cylindrical.
It is either simple or branched and can hold pneumatocysts. Growth
of the sporophyte occurs at an intercalary meristem that usually lies
at the juncture of the stipe and blade. The sporangia are usually cylindrical,
always unilocular, and always found in sori. The sori are borne on
the blades, or are restricted to special blades (sporophylls). Gametophytes
are filamentous with branches free from one another. They are heterothallic
and oogamous. The antheridia of the male gametophyte produce only a
single antherozoid. The oogonia of the female gametophyte produces
a single egg, with the egg being fertilized after partially emerging
from the oogonial wall.